Branson may solve Pembroke's pickle
OXFORD MILLIONAIRE RICHARD Branson could be on the verge of having Pembroke College named after him, if speculation that the maverick businessman is to make a huge cash donation is true. The rumours abounded after the Master of cash-strapped Pembroke, Dr Robert Stevens, announced that he is leaving as a result of "fund-raising fatigue" in order to compensate for government cut-backs. He also proposed controversial new measures to ensure that Oxford can afford to compete on the world's stage....
News: Oxford's Useless Press trashes art
AN UP-AND-COMING young artist has been the victim of what she calls "unfair censorship" at the hands of the Oxford University Press. Jennifer Allen, a student at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, was short-listed for the Pirye Prize and was invited to display her work at the OUP. But when she took up the invitation, one example of the black student's work was condemned as 'racist', while another was considered too sexually suggestive, as a penis had been represented using fabrics....
News: Students looking to net millions
THE SWELLING MASS of Oxbridge student-run websites is a trend that is threatening to outstrip the degree and the endless milkrounds of saccharine investment bankers and accountants. Now the quickest way to earn a million is not to get that job at Goldman Sachs, but to sell an equity stake in a dotcom before you even graduate....
News: et cetera...
OUSU's pot plan
News: Top dons to discuss controversial top-up fees
ANNELIESE DODDS WILL next week make a passionate plea to the University's policy body, urging dons to reject top-up fees, reports Adam Fleming. The Oxford Student gained exclusive access to the top secret document on the same day it was delivered to the prominent figures that make up the Hebdomedal Council.
The mo
News: Hildabeasts say 'no' to sex change
St HILDA'S COLLEGE - the only remaining single-sex college in Oxford - faced a new threat on Thursday 1st June as it saw its first, informal, single sex referendum in four years. Organised by JCR President Ruth Hunt, it was introduced as an opinion poll which would gauge the feelings of the undergraduate body of St Hilda's. It would designed to provide a relaxed and open atmosphere in which to discuss its singe sex status of both the undergraduate body and the Fellows. This referendum is to pre-empt a Governing Body referendum expected early next year, as 2001 will see the retirement of Principal Elizabeth Llewlyn-Smith....
News: Anger over 'Rent Wars'
LINCOLN COLLEGE WAS this week awash with anxiety, as the SCR plan to outstrip New College's recent 12.5% rent increase with a 14% increase for next year. Lincoln plans to increase rents from £58 to £66 a week, excluding heating, electricity and food bills.
News: Hilda's girls in brazen hustings
ST. HILDA'S HIT the news again this week, as this year's round of JCR elections took place. Elections for Entz Officers saw the strangest of requests being asked of the Committee hopefuls.
News: Spence saga still in the media spotlight
THE LONG-RUNNING saga that started with the rejection by Magdalen College of North-East born and comprehensive-educated Laura Spence may finally be nearing an end. David Blunkett, Education and Employment Secretary, pleaded at the National Association of Head Teachers' (NAHT) conference this week for discussion of Spence's case to be concluded in an attempt to "broaden the agenda."...
News: Election tensions rock JCRs
CONTROVERSY HAS TAINTED elections that took place at two colleges this week. Both Exeter and Merton Colleges are having to ride out allegations that problems in electoral practice may have affected the validity of the elections.